Newspaper vending machine



Nov. 18, 1941. E. M. KALTENBACH V NEWS.PAPERv VENDING MACHINE Filiaal Oct. ze, 19:57

Patented Nov. 18,1941

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,263,040 p NEWSPAPER. VENDING MACHINE Ernest M. Kaltenbach, Banning, Calif. Application October 26, 1937, Serial No'. 171,046

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing or vending `machines, and whilefeaturesof the invention fmay be adapted for other specific purposes, the invention as described in the following speciiicaftlon, is applied to the vending of` newspapers. "In such a vending machine the newspapers are held in a pack and an ejector mechanism is provided for removing the papers from the pack one by one. This ejector mechanism is usually located at the bottom of the pack and operates to engage the bottom paper and deliver it through the side of the cabinet or container in which the pack of papers is held. One of the difculties in `the operation of the ejector for a newspaper is "that the material of the paper is more or less fflimsy. The preferable procedure is to place the papers in the magazine or container so that their I` folded edge is located forwardly and immediately back of the opening through which theppapers are to be ejected. One of the difculties of the 'ejector mechanism is that it may engage only the lower half of the folded papenand when the ejector moves forward to eject the paper, the friction of the pack on the upper side of the bottom paperV may hold the upper portion of the 'paper so that the ejector merely shoves a part of'the lower portion of the paper out through the delivery opening. The general object of this 4 inventionis to provide a vending machine of this type with an ejector of improved construction, which will operate to effect a satisfactory engage- `ithas been released to eject the paper.

a simple coin-controlled device for effecting the release of theejecting mechanism.

Further objects of the invention willappear hereinafter.v p "The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to`produce an eflicient newspaper vending machine.` k

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described'in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

jFig. 1 `is a perspective of a newspaper vending machine embodying my invention, certain parts being broken away. Y

, Fig.,`2 is a vertical section taken about von the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and showing the parts in the condition of rest. j Y,

. Fig. 3 isa vertical section similar to` Fig. 1, but

`showingonly the lower part ofthe apparatus.

This View shows the ejector immediately after preparatory'to operating it Fig. 4 is a Aperspective of theejector plate.

` Fig. 5 is a detail view of the end ofthe coin- `ment with the bottom paper sufficient to insure i that the paper` will be effectively ejected through the delivery opening. v

A further object of the invention is to construct the ejector in such a way that the `first movement of the ejector operates to impale the fadjacent paper of the stack, and the latter part u of the movement of the ejector operates to eject the paper through the delivery opening The Vejector preferably includes an ejector ba carrying two or more spurs to engage the adja- ,centpaper of the stack; and one ofthe objects .of'vthef invention is to provide a construction .which will enable the degree of penetration of these spurs in engaging the paper, to be nicely kllregulated soas to adapt` the device to operate 1upon papers of different dimensions; also to insure that the spurs will penetrate not onlyV through the adjacent half of the folded paper, but so that they will engage the other half of the same to insure emcient delivery o-f vthepaper through the opening when the ejector `moves forward U holder lever, broken away.

. In practicing the invention, I, provide an ejector device thatis preferably located under a pack 30 of `papers heldin a container or cabinet. The ejector is preferably in the `form of a bar that extends substantially parallel with Athe delivery opening through which the papers arev to be delivered. The ejector bar carries spurs preferably at its forward edge, which operate to engage the adjacent or lowest paper of the stack in theffirst `part ofthe movement. In the latter part of the ,movement of the-ejector means the ejector bar is moved bodily forward toward the delivery openlng and shoves the paper through it.

' In the position of rest the ejector mechanism is locked against movement and is released by thetinsertion of a coin. In the` operation of the coin-controlled mechanism the coin operates to release a detent, thereby permitting a slight movement of the ejector mechanism preferably through the medium oa spring, and `this move- `against being operated. ,And they construction is such that when the ejector mechanism is operated thezcoinwiil be released `and permitted to A ,further object of the invention is to provide y fall into the coin box.

The ejector bar is preferably constructed in such a way that as it moves forwardly, the spurs can tilt backwardly at their upper ends. This feature is important because it prevents any possibility of the points operating to rip through the paper without pushing it forward. The spurs are preferably carried on a rocker plate that operates to increase this backward tilting movement of the spurs, and also operates to cause them to increase their penetration through the lower fold' or half of the paper and engage with the upper fold or half of the paper, thereby preventing any miscarriage when the ejector moves forward.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a casinar or container for a stack 2 of papers that are preferably placed in the container from labove,l

and enclosed by a hinged cover 3, which may be provided with a padlock 4 to prevent the papers from being stolen. The stack 2 rests upon a bottom plate 5, which may in turn rest -upon a wooden bottom'- 6L'. '.At the ends of the box or container, guide bars 'I are provided for guiding an ejector bar 8, said ejector bar preferably comprising a rigid slat or batten 9, the endsof which rest upon, andare guided by, the bars 1. The

wooden bottom 6 is cut away to a point near the front wall I to permit the ejector bar 8, to move back and forth. The bottom plate 5, which is y,preferably of metal, is formed with `two slots such as the slot I I, through which the vspurs I2 carried 4by the ejectorV bar 8 project., These spurs project forwardly and upwardly from the ejector bar, and in the position of rest of 'this barl as Ishown inFig. 2, the points of the spurs' are slightly below the bottom paper I3.

The machine is constructed `so'that when the movement is imparted to the ejector bar 8, the ejector bar will begin its movement by swinging upwardly sufficiently to impalethefbottom paper |31 on'the spurs I2.vv In order to accomplish this,

'I prefer to provide a'connection tothe forward `edge` of the slat l,or batten 9, that' will give an upward thrust toits forward edge atlleast'at the first part-of the movement, and the mechanism for thisl purpose is preferably constructed so. that the direction of this thrust will vchange later and bedirected in a substantially horizontal direction ,toward thedelivery opening I4 in the .forward wall lI IJ` ofthe magazine or container.

Inorder to accomplish this, I prefer to employ a'connecting rod or link I5, which, in itsposition of rest is invan inclined direction; that is to say, 'its forward end is elevated and pivotally attached to` av short'post I6 extending downwardly from the 'under s id'e'or forward edge of the hattenv 9.

vThe rear'end of the link I5y is preferably connected to an arm or lever I'I rigid with a shaft I8. The linksISI are preferably two in number,

"connected to twoarms II so that the batten 9l Vformed integrally on an ejector plate ZI, 'and this plateis preferably constructed so lthat itaugments the backward tiltingv action of V,the points of the spurs when they engage the paper to move it forwardly. For this purpose the plate 2I is preferably curved or dished transversely, and attached to the slat 9 in a way to permit free rocking movement of the plate in an upward direction toward its forward edge. For this purpose the plate is preferably provided with two openings 22 through which nails 23 or similar fasteners pass downwardly. These nails have enlarged heads larger than the openings 22 so as to hold the plate on the batten, but the nails are not driven down tight, so that there is free play for the plates under the heads. Fig. 3 illustrates this action of the ejector plate, and shows how the batten 9 will rock upwardly toward its forward edge as the thrust is developed in the link I5. This View also illustrates how the plate 2| rocks upwardly toward its forward edge.

The upward tilting movement atthe forward edge of the slat or batten 9, and the upward rocking movement of the pins or spurs I2, is preferably sufficient to enable the points to penetrate all the way through the lower fold of the paper and enter or engage the upper fold. In this way, when the ejector moves forwardly the thrust through the spurs is imparted to both the upper and lower folds of the paper, which insures that the upper fold will be moved forwardly with the lower fold regardless of the high amount of friction between it and the adjacent paper of the stack.

In order to provide for locking the ejecting mechanism to prevent its being operated without the use of a coin, I prefer to provide the shaft I8 with a rigid segment 24. This segment cooperates with a detent 25; that is to say, it has means to be engaged by the detent so that the detent can keep the shaft I8 from rotating. For this purpose the detent 25 is in the form of a lever rigid with a rock shaft 26 and having a lateral or bent end 21 received in a recess or notch 28 in the edge of the segment.

Means is provided for urging the shaft I8 to rotate in a direction to advance the ejector bar. For this purpose I prefer to, provide a coil spring 29, which is attached to a part of the segment,

moving4 it to release the detent 25 from the segment. This means may be coin-controlled, in which case I prefer to employ a lever or arm 30 (see Fig, 2) the outer end of which projects under the lower end of a coin chute 3|. The end of the lever 30 under the delivery end of the coin chute, is provided with two separated fingers 32 between which the coin 33 is received, the lower edge of the coin striking against a horizontal tongue 34 below the angers 32. The Chute 3| is of considerable length, Vhaving an elevated receiving mouth 35 (see Fig. 1). When the coin falls down this chute it acquires considerable momentum, and when it strikes vthe end of the lever 39it will Vdepress it'and cause the detent 2.5 to rock upwardly and remove its bent en d 21 from the notch 28. The spring 29 will-*then give a slight forward movement to the segment Iin the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2, and this will move the notch 28 from under the bent end 21 of the detent and permit it to rest on the edge 36 of the segment. This edge is in the form of a cam, and when the shaft I8 is rotated bythe crank I9, this cam edge 35 will raise the end of the detent 25, thereby considerablyl depressing the free end of the coin arm or lever 30,?'which will permit the coin tolfall out of the coin chute and into'a coinbox 31., `The coin boxmaybe `in the form of: asmall drawer, whichmay be locked 'by means of a key insertedina lockfindicated at138."` f

In effecting the upward uit ef the forward edge `o;the ejector bar in the' rst part` ofthe ejector movement, it should be: said `that .this action is greatly facilitated if af coil spring 39lis provided.

`This coil spring is anchored at its rear endon the rear wall ofA the box, and its forward end is attached near Lthe rear edge of the batteri or slat 9. `This springdunctions to hold down `the rear encl'of the batteri, although it permits the forward edge to be tilted` upwardly as described.

The segment 24 mayzbe' provided with a segmental guard L40 toxprevent :any possibility of `opening I4 may be covered by a long ap door 4I suspended on hinge pins 42.

In order to prevent any theft of papers through the delivery opening I4, I may provide the forward end of the pack of papers with a guard 43, the lower end of which presents a flange or bar 44 extending along just inside of the delivery opening. This guard 43 is pressed downwardly yieldingly by one or more coil springs 45. Its lower edge at the flange orjbar 44, is preferably bent outwardly so that the pressure of the forward folded edge of the paper against it will force it up and permit the paper to pass outwardly. l

The mode of operation Vof the entire machine will now be briefly stated:

When a coin is inserted at the coin slot 35, it falls down the chute 3I and strikesthe end of the arm 30, thereby depressing the free end of this arm; and through the medium of the rock shaft 26, raises the free end of the detent 25. This moves the detent out of engagement with the notch 28 in the segment 24, and permits the spring 29 to pull the segment forwardly through a small angle, thereby supporting the bent end of the detent 25 on the cam edge 36 of the segment, and also effecting a slight forward movement of the link I5 sucient to tilt the ejector bar 8 upwardly at its forward" edge and cause the spurs I2 to impale the lowest paper I3 of the pack. The crank I9 can now be actuated to rotate the shaft I8, developing an increased thrust on the link I5, but as the arm I'I swings upwardly, it will be evident that the direction of this thrust through the link I5 becomes less inclined and substantially horizontal at the most elevated point of the swingof the arm I 1. As the ejector bar 8 moves forwardly, the spurs I2 penetrate further through thepaper I3 and tilt backwardly toward their points as this occurs. This tilting back of the spurs increases their resistance to being dragged through the paper and tends to prevent them from tearing the paper. The further movement of the ejector bar will push the bottom paper I3 through the delivery opening I4 and, of course, as soon as its forward edge appears beyond the flap 4I, the

. the? bent end 21 of the detent from swinging too I paper.A can be seized by the purchaser and pulled outwardly. As the projecting movement is completed, the freelend of the detent 25 rides up on the cam edge l3I',"causing the depressing vof the free `end of vthe 'arm 30, whichreleases the coin and permits itto fall into the coin box 3l.`

`It` is -understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, andI `dotnot wish tobe limited in the practice ofthe invention, nor in the claims, to the particularembodimentset forth. What I claim is: .I I 1 1. In a machine for vendingnewspapers or the likethe` combination of' a container for a lpack of papers and having a wall with a delivery open- VIngftherethroughg an ejector bar,-means for guiding the bar by supporting the same from below, `so that it is capable of moving toward and from said delivery opening and so that the ejector bar is capable of tilting out of the guiding line toward or from the adjacent paper of the pack on an axis extending transversely with respect to its direction of travel, engaging means carried by said bar and having spurs for engaging the adjacent paper of the pack when the spurs are tilted upwardly, an arm mounted to rotate on an axis extending substantially parallel with the ejector bar, said arm having a position of rest in which it extends upwardly from its axis of rotation and away from the delivery opening, a link connecting the arm with the bar and disposed in an inclined position with its upper end approaching the pack, a driving member for rotating said arm on its axis, said link and arm. cooperating when the arm is actuated, to tilt the bar and the spurs upwardly so as to engage said spurs with the adjacent paper of the pack and operating thereafter to push the engaged paper through the delivery opening.

2. In a machine for vending newspapers or the like, the combination of a container for a pack of papers and having a wall with a delivery opening therethrough, an ejector bar supported vfrom below, so that it is capable of moving toward and from said delivery opening and capable of tilting toward the adjacent paper of the pack on an axis extending transversely with respect to, and out of line with, its direction of travel, engaging means carried by said bar, consisting of a metal plate extending longitudinally of the bar and bent in a transverse direction and extending longitudinally with the bar to form a convex face resting against the upper face of the bar, said plate having spurs for` engaging the adjacent paper of the pack, an arm mounted to rotate on an axis extending substantially parallel with the ejector bar, a link connecting the arm with the said bar and disposed in an inclined position with its upper end approaching the pack, a driving member for rotating said arm on its axis, saidlink and arm cooperating when the arm is actuated, to tilt the bar and engage said spurs with the adjacent paper of the pack and operating thereafter to push the engaged paper through the delivery opening, said plate operating to rock on the adjacent face of the bar when the same is advanced, and thereby cause the spurs to rock back toward a more upright position as the spurs engage the same.

3. In an ejector for ejecting newspapers or the like in succession from the bottom of a pack and through a delivery opening, the combination of an ejector bar, means for guiding the same to travel toward or from the delivery opening, said ejector bar extending laterally with respect to its direction of travel, engaging means carried by the ejector bar and consisting of a bar of plate-form bent transversely and extending. longitudinally with the ejector bar, means for mounting the engaging means on the ejector bar to, enable the engaging means to rock upwardly at its forward edge, said engaging means having inclined spurs adjacent its forward edge for engaging the bottom paper of the pad, and means for exerting force upon the ejector bar to move the same toward the delivery opening, said spurs engaging the bottom paper and operating when the ejector bar moves forwardly to swing upwardly, impale the bottom paper first, and then move the same toward the delivery opening.

4. In an ejector for ejecting newspapers or the like in succession from the bottom of a pack and through a delivery opening, the combination of an ejector bar supported from below so that it is capable of traveling toward or from the delivery opening, and also capable of tilting upwardlyy at its forward' end, said ejector bar extending laterally with reference to its direction of travel, engaging means carried on the ejector bar consisting of a metal bar bent in a transverse direction and extending longitudinally with the ejector bar, said engaging means having upward- 1y inclined spurs for engaging the bottom paper of the pack, and means for exerting force upon the ejector bar to move the same toward the delivery opening, means for holding the engaging means on the ejector bar loosely so as to permit the same to rock upwardly at its forward edge when the ejector bar is moved forwardly, thereby impaling the bottom paper on the spurs and then moving the same toward the delivery opening.

ERNEST M. KALTENBACH. 

